CR1000A router disabling 2.4Ghz wifi band after a few minutes

[wonx]

Since last Friday (2023-02-03), I have been having problems with my Verizon Fios CR1000A router.  The 2.4Ghz wifi band just stops working, all the devices get disconnected and the router stops emitting in that frequency. The 5Ghz band keeps working just fine though.

Note: in the picture the 2.4 band appears as Disconnected, despite being enabled. However, if a band does not have any devices connected to it, it will also appear as "disconnected" (I tried that by disconnecting everything from the 5Ghz band, and that one also appeared as "disconnected") so it is possible that it says "disconnected" while the radio is enabled, but this is not what it's actually happening for the 2.4 band.

The only way to make the 2.4Ghz work again is by completely restarting the router, but it will only work from a few minutes to a few hours. This is an issue because many IoT devices only work on the 2.4Ghz band. I've had this router for several months, and this never happened before.

Things that I have tried so far:

- Restarting the router. This makes the 2.4 band work for a few minutes or even a few hours.

- Changing the wifi channel (by default it was on auto). Doesn't have any effect.

- Disabling and re-enabling the 2.4 band. Does nothing unless I restart the router.

- Disabling SON (Self-organized network). No effect.

- Reset everything to factory defaults. No effect either.

- Setting different SSID for 2.4 and 5.0Ghz bands. No effect.

I I talked with a Verizon technician and sent me a new router, but the problem reappears immediately, so that rules out a hardware issue.

In the router log, when the disconnection happens, I can see something like this, which seems to be each device connected to that band losing connectivity:

2023 Feb 8 01:26:18 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx, DA=d8:1f:12:38:2exx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:26:17 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx, DA=66:19:a0:e9:b8:xx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:26:16 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx, DA=86:05:ba:c2:48:xx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:xx:xx hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx, DA=48:78:5e:17:d8:xx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:26:16 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx, DA=b8:27:eb:5e:f1:xx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:26:16 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx DA=b4:b0:24:55:29:xx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:26:16 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx, DA=b4:b0:24:55:40:xx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:26:16 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx DA=c8:c9:a3:92:c7:xx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:26:16 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx, DA=48:3f:da:c2:93:xx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:26:15 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx, DA=48:3f:da:c2:85:xx, STA is disconnected
2023 Feb 8 01:26:15 hostapd info [WIFI.6][ADV]Connection Event: BSS=ath1, ACTION=Connectivity, SA=78:67:0e:af:xx:xx, DA=1c:3b:f3:2d:8d:xx STA is disconnected

The wifi spectrum where I live is very saturated, but that hasn't been a problem for over a year.  I could understand that some devices lost connectivity or had low speed because of that, but not that the router just disables the 2.4 band and never reconnects again.

I have not made any changes in my network in the last few weeks. No new devices or anything. Maybe there's been a firmware update last week that caused this issue ? 

For the moment, as a workaround, I am using a (very) old router I had lying around and set it up as a wireless access point for the 2.4 band, but I'd rather use the wifi from Verizon's router.

I just wanted to know if I'm alone in this or there's more people affected by this issue. Currently I'm out of ideas and if the problem doesn't resolve I'll just buy a third-party router.

[Sparks123]

Same problem here.  For me the problem began circa March 7 (today is March 11,  2023).  Firmware version is 3.2.0.7.  

To temporarily bring back the 2.4GHz band, you can change one of the settings for that band and apply changes.  I find that a bit easier and faster than unplugging the router.

It might help technicians understand the problem better by telling them that WiFi analyzers (e.g., WiFiMan by Ubiquiti, on a cell phone) show no 2.4 GHz radio on the CR1000A is transmitting.  This shows that it is not just the Guest and IOT SSIDs that went out.  (Those are 2.4 GHz only,  so of course they are not listed as available networks when the 2.4 GHz band is out.)

[Chrisl2022]

Adding on to this... Same issue with 2.4 GHz disappearing. Firmware 3.2.07 on CR1000A. Hardware version 0.0.7.

• Chris

[Jack-C]

First occurrence 3/11/2023, occurring daily since. 3/17/2023 twice today so far.

[magent]

Has Verizon given any of you any additional guidance or support with this issue? Or even acknowledged that it is a common problem? All they continue to do for me is factory resets and replace the router. 

[conazo]

I'm having the sames issues with CR1000A dropping 2.4Ghz  at least twice a day this is very frustrating since we are paying for a service that's not working properly. VERIZON PLEASE THIS ISSUE ASAP!!! MY KIDS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY COMPLAINING ABOUT NOT HAVING INTERNET ON THEIR TABLETS AND TVS!!! 

[jradwan]

I've had the same issue for about a month, maybe longer. Entire 2.4 GHz shuts down, all smart devices disconnect and will not reconnect unless router is rebooted. Same version as others in the comments, CR1000A running firmware 3.2.0.7 and hardware 0.0.7.

According the open source portal https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/internet/equipment/open-source-software the latest firmware update for CR1000A (3.2.0.7) happened on Feb 3, 2023. The next most recent release is from May 17, 2022 (firmware 3.1.0.21). No idea what to do with the file once I download the zip-- I can't find where to go in the router settings.

[wonx]

---

@jradwan wrote:

No idea what to do with the file once I download the zip-- I can't find where to go in the router settings.

There's this page in the router to upgrade the firmware: https://192.168.0.1/#/firmware_upgrade

I only tried installing a previous version of the firmware, but it didn't let me.

[aPastafarian]

I've kind of given up on this for the mean time.  For both cr1000's I've used  the problem's interval increases over time till it's many times a day.  Replacing and resetting the router doesn't accomplish anything and I'm not entirely sure it's a firmware issue or a hardware fault.  It could well be that the reason many of us have received replacement routers only to have the same issue is that the replacement is already a return that checked out because this fault doesn't occur right away.  I am fortunate to have an oldish Asus router that I can use as a 2.4ghz access point, it certainly uses more power than just one router, but it works .  When I set up the access point, it took about 5min after restarting everything till 2.4ghz shut down on the Verizon router and moved to the Asus.  I hope this issue gets resolved and I can go back to just one device but I've already spent hours trying to resolve it and the next step would be to threaten to go back to Optimum, which I really don't want to do right now.  This whole thing certainly will make it easier to jump ship eventually.... 

[soramorgan]

Same issue we're experiencing.  CR1000A on 3.2.0.7 firmware/ 0.0.7 hardware. SON disabled. 5GHz stays available, but 2.4 will go down intermittently.

Have tried factory resetting and different band channels with no success.  I've considered trying IoT, but 99% of our devices that use 2.4 are smart devices anyways so I rather not be bothered.

I'll most likely try using an older router (TP-Link AC1900) for a couple days or few weeks to see if we're good.

[Chrisl2022]

Looks like they updated to firmware 3.2.0.8 over the past week or so.  Has the issue been resolved for anyone?

Chris 

[aPastafarian]

Still 3.2.0.7 here.... 😭

[magent]

Same here. 3.2.0.7

[Chrisl2022]

Give your routers a reboot to see if they have the new firmware load on boot up. 

[top83banana]

Make sure your IoT Network has a same Wi-Fi name as your Primary Network.

[Chrisl2022]

I switched back to using the 2.4 GHz wireless last night and the 2.4 GHz radio disappeared again this morning. The new firmware did not resolve the issue . I am back to using my separate access points for 2.4. 

[Chrisl2022]

Here's what I have done and it is working okay for over 4 days now:

I don't use the SON (self organizing network) feature. 

Renamed the regular 2.4GHz network name to something else so no one connects to it. 

Used the IOT network and renamed it to what I usually use for my 2.4GHz Network with the same passcode. 

Devices have been connecting through the IOT network for over 4 days and the radio has not failed yet. 

I'll just leave like this until we hear news of this issue being fixed permanently. 

Chris

[aPastafarian]

• I really hope this works for you but I have tried everything you have and it hasn't worked for me.  The radio failure is inconsistent for me, I can go 4-5 days up, then have it go down every hour or less .  I also don't know how Verizon is working the new firmware rollout, it's been over 3 week since I saw the first report of 3.2.0.8, I'm still on 3.2.0.7.  There can't be that many out there for this slow a roll out?   I'm thinking about forcing another swap, if just to annoy them  . In pretty sure it won't help one bit and that this router is little more than e-waste. 

[Kohl-Kurt]

Same problem for me with a CR-1000A router.  Firmware version is 3.2.0.7

[aPastafarian]

This router is junk, plain and simple and I've sort of given up on it ever working as advertised.  I've had 3 now, and all have identical 2.4Ghz disconnect issues, none have upgraded to 3.2.0.8 and I'm convinced it wouldn't matter anyway. I shouldn't be too bitter, I was given the router n/c after downgrading my $120/m cable/100mb service to $44/m 1GB and I see many reporting they pay significantly more.  My choice is to continue with my CR1000/Asus CT8 combo with acceptable 5Ghz and ethernet speed and less than stellar 2.4Ghz speed with the added complication that if the CR1000 reboots, everything connects to the Asus at 2.4Ghz and won't connect at 5Ghz till I reboot the Asus too, or buy a new functional router adding even more e-waste to the world.  My experience leaves me wondering, are most of the people using this router just accepting that it can't stay connected via 2.4 GHz and reboot it constantly?  Do they just not have any 2.4 GHz devices (I have 30+ mostly IOT)?  Or have they all like me, given up and moved on to another solution?

[Chitchat7295]

I got a replacement cr1000a (still rev A hardware) but upgraded to 3.2.0.8 Firmware.  Between April 22nd and May 5th, I didn't run into this issue once and thought I was in the clear (though, I did have one mid-week "Kernel Panic" that reset my router in the middle of a work meeting 😡).

Then, on May 6th, with nothing different happening on my network than any 'normal day', the issue popped up again.  So, for those hoping it was fixed in the latest Firmware, you can give up on that route.  I use the 2.4Ghz Wifi exclusively for the IoT network.  That mean, when 2.4Ghz goes out, all my connected devices disconnect .  

Next thing to evaluate is whether this is a HW rev issue.  Is anyone that's having this issue on rev B hardware??